Text extracted from a scan by Google Book Search. satisfactory account of the exact progress of the work, or even to embody the results accomplished when so much FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT remains unfinished. OF THE The subjoined catalogue of the species known to inhabit PROGRESS our State, will, perhaps, best present an outline of the OF THE labor already performed, and at the same time furnish GEOLOGICAL SURVEY desirable information in regard to the geographical range OF MICHIGAN, of species. EMBRACING OBSERVATIONS ON THE In addition to the list here presented there are large GEOLOGY, ZOÖLOGY, AND BOTANY numbers of specimens that remain to be identified and OF THE described, which will materially increase the number of LOWER PENINSULA known species in the State. The fishes, insects, and crustaceans have not been worked up and for that reason have been omitted from MADE TO THE GOVERNOR, DECEMBER 31, 1860. the catalogue. BY AUTHORITY. It may not be out of place in this connection to make a brief statement of the aims to be kept in view, and the LANSING: results which may be expected to follow from the earnest Hosmer & Kerr, Printers to the State. prosecution of the study of the Zoology of our State. 1861. From the intimate and important relations existing Digitized by Google between man and the various branches of the Animal REPORT OF THE STATE GEOLOGIST. kingdom, he is particularly interested in becoming acquainted with the forms, structure, metamorphoses, habits, and dispositions of the animate beings which surround him. He would thus be better fitted to act intelligently in availing himself of the benefits to be PART II. derived from those species that are capable of improvement by domestication, and at the same time be ZOÖLOGY. enabled to successfully maintain that influence and control over the economy of inferior organizations which CHAPTER VIII. his superior physical and mental developement, as well REPORT OF THE STATE ZOOLOGIST. as interests, require of him. Dependent upon the animal kingdom, as he is to a great extent, for many of the LANSING, Mich., Dec. 20th, 186o. comforts and luxuries of life, it would seem that the importance of a thorough investigation of the laws which TO PROF. A. WINCHELL, State Geologist: govern this magnificent creation of living beings, and SIR—I have the honor to transmit the following report of their relations to man's well-being and interests cannot progress made in the Zoological department of the be too highly estimated. Natural History Survey of the State, during the past two In the present advanced state of the abstract sciences, years. every branch of inquiry or investigation, no matter how Owing to the limited appropriation made by the trivial or unimportant it may in itself appear, tends Legislature for the purpose of recommencing the directly to develop results that are of practical application Geological Survey of the State, and the desirableness of in the varied pursuits of life. prosecuting the explorations in the Geological Many illustrations of this fact might be adduced, and will department with as effective a force as possible, I have undoubtedly present themselves to the minds of those been unable, as you are well aware, to devote but a part who are familiar with the history of the useful arts. I will, of my time to investigations in the department assigned however, cite but a single instance: me in the organization of the Geological corps. When it became known that sealing-wax, amber, and The Zoological collections already made comprise such other resinous bodies, on being rubbed would attract specimens as could be readily obtained without the pith-balls and other light substances, the discovery was sacrifice of much time, or detracting materially from the looked, upon as unimportant and trifling, and no one efficient progress of the Geological reconnoissance. thought the knowledge capable of being made available Very much remains to be done before an approximation for any practical purpose; yet from this small beginning to a complete knowledge of our fauna can be obtained. the science of electricity has been developed, which, in its practical applications in the arts, no one in the present From the nature of the subjects of investigation in this age would venture to set a limit. From the application of department, it is difficult, in a limited space, to give a the principles of this science we are indebted for the First Biennial Report of the Progress of the Geological Survey of Michigan - Zoölogy – Page 1 of 12 increased facilities in the art of printing, by the process of In the State of New York alone hundreds of thousand of electrotyping, improvements in the art of gilding, as well dollars have been expended in explorations for coal, as for that wonder of the age, the magnetic telegraph, when an examination of a few shells that abound in her that brings by its network of wires the most remote rocks, would have shown that the entire geological places into almost instantaneous communication, formations of the State were below the coal bearing series of rocks, and that explorations for that mineral The so-called trifling experiments of philosophers, would consequently be fruitless. considered by many as beneath, the attention of intelligent beings, have brought forth fruit abundantly, the In an educational point of view, a systematic knowledge influence of which on the world's progress can hardly be of the animals inhabiting our State, their habits and estimated. relations to man and the surrounding world, would furnish a fund of materials for reflection and study, Thus, in every department of knowledge, practical which, as a means of mental culture and developement, results are constantly presenting themselves as the is capable of attaining a high rank among the studies inevitable consequence of progress in the purely considered essential in our institutions of learning, to a abstract investigations of science. successful training of the intellectual powers. An accurate scientific knowledge of the appearance, At the present time, when a knowledge of the principles food, development, and mode of existence, of the of Natural History is considered indispensable to a various animal forms we are brought in contact with in finished education, the want of Museums in our State our every day pursuits, as well as their varied relations to where the materials for the prosecution of this most the vegetable and inorganic kingdoms of nature, is interesting branch of study may be accessible to every indispensable if we would derive practical benefit from one, is severely felt. the different classes of the animal kingdom and render them subservient to our prosperity and happiness. To supply this want, complete collections of the plants and animals of our State should be made so as fully to Such knowledge to the agriculturalist would indeed be illustrate their systematic relations and affinities of found of incalculable advantage; it would enable him to structure, due prominence being given in their protect, as far as possible, the many species that confer arrangement to the exhibition in a suitable manner of direct benefits by furnishing various useful products, and those species that are of benefit to the agriculturalist, as to encourage the development of those that assist in well as those that from their habits are continually protecting his crops, by preying on noxious forms, and warring against his interests by committing ravages that thus preventing their inordinate increase, and at the it is an object to keep within due bounds. same time he would be better prepared to adopt suitable measures for destroying and keeping in check those that Aside from all this, the study of nature has a still higher by their depredations on his forest trees and grasses significance than can be measured by any merely become most formidable enemies and the pests of practical or pecuniary advantages accruing from its civilization. prosecution. The army of weevils, Hessian flies, midges, chinch bugs, As the material expressions of the ideas of the Creator, and cut worms attacking his wheat and other cereals, the Supreme Intelligence of the Universe, the world of the numerous species of borers, curculios, locusts, and organic beings which he has created for man's moths so destructive to his fruit and forest trees, all point contemplation and improvement, is certainly worthy the to his interest in becoming better acquainted with the careful consideration of the highest faculties of the economy of nature, and studying more closely the varied human mind. phenomena presented by organic beings. In conclusion, I would make this public acknowledgment The intimate relations of Zoology to the other of my indebtedness to a number of scientific gentlemen departments of science, might be cited as an incentive to for their disinterested assistance and encouragement, a more general dissemination and increase t»f the and to the public generally for the many acts of kindness knowledge of organic beings. shown to myself and party, during the progress of the survey. Geology derives important aid in its investigations from the application of the principles of Zoology; indeed, the M. MILES, rapid progress of the science of Geology at the present State Zoologist. time is owing to the accurate investigations of the relations existing between the organic forms at present inhabiting our globe, and those fossil remains that are the index of the faunas and floras of past ages. It is in fact in consequence of the aid furnished by the kindred sciences of Botany and Zoology that modern Geology has attained her proudest achievements. First Biennial Report of the Progress of the Geological Survey of Michigan - Zoölogy – Page 2 of 12 A CATALOGUE 19.